Key Lime Pickle

One of the first times I realized how truly global the world was becoming was when I had classmate (who was not Indian) in graduate school say that he loved lime pickles with yogurt rice. This is a truly traditional Southern Indian combination- not something you can pick up eating in a Indian restaurant. What made it even more surprising was when he went on to say that he actually loves it so much that he learned how to make it at home and even had an opinion on the best kind of limes to use.

This recipe for lime pickles is one my mother has made for years. It has a lot of really good for you ingredients like turmeric and fenugreek. It’s also not as spicy as what you have likely seen in Indian restaurants. With citrus abundant in winter, this is a great time to make these pickles. I think key limes are great since their skins are thinner and easier to cook. However, you can use any lime that you can find .

These pickles are really fast and easy to make. Stored in the refrigerator, they can last for months. Since they are used in small quantities, I like bottling them in tiny Weck jars. This way, you don’t have to expose the entire batch when opening the bottle to take some.

While commonly used as a side to some sort rice dish (especially the traditional yogurt rice), these pickles are very versatile and can add just the right kick to almost anything- smear it on some bread or crackers, swirl it in some soup- the possibilities are endless.